Author: PETI SIYAME
AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE government has sacked two Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) managers over failure to discharge their responsibilities in their assigned regions effectively.
They are Engineer Isaac Mwanawima who served as Lindi Tanroads manager and Engineer Yudas Msangi who was acting Coast region’s manager.
Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Engineer Isack Kamwelwe announced the sackings yesterday for their gross failure to ensure that road infrastructures are up to the requisite standards.
The minister announced the decision when he was inspecting the construction of the 1.6 kilometre road that runs from Kibaoni area to the headquarters of Mpimbwe District Council in Mlele District, Katavi Region. Engineer Kamwelwe was travelling from Inyonga Township in Mlele District to Lindi Region.
The termination of the two managers came only a day after President John Magufuli expressed deep concern over the competence of the officials at the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications after he witnessed the damaged section of Nangurukuru-Lindi highway.
Announcing the termination of the two officials yesterday, Engineer Kamwelwe said it was inconceivable for the section of Mingoyo-Lindi highway to be in such a pathetic condition while funds for rehabilitation were available at the Road Fund.
He said Tanroads had always been an institution of high repute but bad elements had recently infiltrated it.
“You better take note that this is not the period of condoning the ‘business as usual attitude’ as whoever fails to discharge one’s responsibilities will be held responsible,” he pointed out.
He directed all Tanroads regional managers to ensure that all roads that were damaged by rains are rehabilitated by end of this month.
According to the minister, the ministry allocated 35bn/- for road rehabilitation, adding that any regional manager who fails to complete the task by the end of this month should consider themselves out.
He said he recently held a meeting with all Tanroads managers in Dodoma during which he directed them to rehabilitate damaged roads.
While travelling from Lupaso in Masasi District, Mtwara Region on Thursday where he led tens of thousands mourners for the burial of the late former president Benjamin Mkapa on Wednesday, President Magufuli promised prompt action to re-shape the badly damaged 90 kilometres section of Nangurukuru-Lindi highway.
In his remarks, Dr Magufuli questioned the efficiency of the top officials in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications for failure to perform their duties effectively, leading to the damage of the road stretch.
He declared that he would take immediate action shortly after arriving at the office, for the road to be maintained in a grand plan to avoid effects that could follow.
According to him, the road had been severely damaged and there was no plan in the ministry to restore it to its original perfect standards.
“If you look at this road, it’s like the works ministry has no minister, deputy minister, permanent secretary, chief executive officer of Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads) or Lindi regional Tanroads manager,” Dr Magufuli said.
“To be honest, this isn’t the same road that I left when I was the Minister for Works in 2015; it has been damaged severely by trucks that are overloaded with gypsums, and the ministry is quiet on this,” added the President.
He was of the view that immediate intervention was needed to restore the standard of the road, so as to avoid accident risks.
